The Very Light Jet (VLJ), a newcomer on the aviation scene with costs ranging roughly from $1 to $4 million, has put owning or sharing ownership of an aircraft within the reach of individuals other than the rich and famous. A VLJ is a small single-pilot aircraft weighing 10,000 pounds or less. Most have the capacity to carry four to eight passengers. As production increases, VLJs will be utilized for fractional ownerships, air taxis, corporate jets and other recreational purposes. There is no standard definition for this type of plane, but VLJs are generally certificated for a single pilot, have a maximum takeoff weight of 10,000 lbs and come equipped with cutting edge lightweight avionic systems. The VLJ is classified as a general aviation aircraft and will typically fly under Visual Flight Rules (VFR) when not flying into commercial hubs. A few examples of this aircraft are the Eclipse Jet and the Honda Jet.
The United States Government Accountability Office’s (GAO) August 2007 report on VLJs forecasted different factors that could influence the VLJs’ effect on the National Airspace System (NAS) and what issues the flying public may expect once these aircraft are routinely in service. As of March 31, 2007, only six VLJs had been delivered, but certain aviation industry reports predict a range of 3,000 to 7,600 VLJs will be delivered between 2016 and 2025, with 400 to 500 entering into the NAS each year. This will be largely dependent on the growth of the air taxi market and if airlines replace their aging commercial airplanes with VLJs to support a growing on-demand market.
The largest area for concern to the flying public is the affect on capacity at commercial hubs. The current NAS system will struggle with this increase as the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Air Traffic Control System is faltering under its current capacity, which is seen in the recent upswings in runway incursions. Increasing this workload can ultimately lead to an alarming increase in runway incursions, both minor and deadly.
